U.S. patent number 8,249,295 [Application Number 12/400,552] was granted by the patent office on 2012-08-21 for system for monitoring hand cleaning compliance.
Invention is credited to Raymond C. Johnson.
United States Patent |
8,249,295 |
Johnson |
August 21, 2012 |
System for monitoring hand cleaning compliance
Abstract
A system to allow employers to monitor employee handwashing or
hand sanitization compliance in a facility with a plurality of
touchless dispensers for metering a cleanser, disinfectant or
lotion on the hands of a user. A detector associated with each
dispenser triggers operation of the dispensing mechanism and sends
a signal to a local controller which date and time stamps the
dispensing act. The controller sends a report to a central computer
which identifies the dispenser and the date and time of each
dispensing act. The reports from the several dispensers is stored
in a database for management review. On receipt of a signal from
the detector, the controller may also trigger operation of a
preferably touchless input device to identify the user. Data
collected by the input device is relayed to the central computer
through the controller. The central computer is programmed with an
algorithm for matching the data collected by the input device with
data previously collected and identified with the user. During the
dispensing processes, the controller may signal an output device
that indicates to the user that the system is working.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Raymond C. (Creve
Coeur, MO) |
Family
ID: |
42728989 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/400,552 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100155416 A1 |
Jun 24, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
382/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
21/245 (20130101); G07C 9/37 (20200101); A47K
2210/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
9/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;382/100
;340/573.1-573.4 ;206/205-210 ;222/1,30-39,52,405 ;134/113,56R,57R
;137/552.7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO 93/10311 |
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May 1993 |
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WO |
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WO 01/33529 |
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May 2001 |
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WO |
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WO 02/77927 |
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Mar 2002 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Fitzpatrick; Atiba O
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fishel; Grace J.
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A system for monitoring hand cleaning compliance comprising: a
plurality of touchless dispensers for metering a cleanser,
disinfectant or lotion on the hands of a user, each of said
touchless dispensers having a discharge port and a touchless
detector which triggers operation of a dispensing mechanism and
sends a signal to a controller to date and time stamp the
dispensing act when an unidentified user places his or her hands
under the discharge port, a touchless input device co-located with
each dispenser for acquiring identification information about the
user upon receipt of a signal from the touchless dispenser, said
input device sending a signal to the controller which sends a
report which identifies the dispenser and the date and time of the
dispensing act and the user identification information to a central
computer, said central computer identifying the user with an
algorithm appropriate to the information acquired by the input
device, said central computer storing the identity of the user if
identified in a database along with the identity of the dispenser
and the date and time of the dispensing act for management
review.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification information is
biometric data.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a microphone
which collects audio data and the algorithm in the central computer
identifies the user with a voice recognition algorithm.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a camera which
collects video or image data and the algorithm in the central
computer identifies the user with a facial, body or apparel
recognition algorithm.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a camera which
collects video or image data and the algorithm is a hand geometry
recognition algorithm.
6. The system of claim 2 wherein the input device is a retinal
scanner and the algorithm is a retinal scan algorithm.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the input device is a radio
frequency identification (RFID) card reader and the algorithm is a
RFID algorithm.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein an output device is co-located
with each dispenser for providing feedback to the user
acknowledging the dispensing act along with the name of the user if
identified.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is comprised of
one or more blinking lights.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is an LED
display.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is a video
monitor.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the output device is an audio
speaker.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system to allow employers to
monitor employee handwashing or hand sanitization compliance in
keeping with local and state codes and recommendations.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is known that poor hand cleaning compliance in the medical and
food industries is a source of infectious disease. It is also known
that hand cleaning compliance increases if an employee knows that
management is monitoring compliance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a cost-effective system that allows management to monitor
hand cleaning compliance. Other objects and features of the
invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out
hereinafter.
In accordance with the invention, a system for monitoring hand
cleaning compliance includes a plurality of touchless dispensers
for metering a cleanser, disinfectant or lotion onto the hands of a
user. Each of the dispensers has a discharge port and a detector
which triggers operation of a dispensing mechanism and sends a
signal to a controller to date and time stamp the dispensing act
when a user places his or her hands under the discharge port. The
controller sends a report to a central computer which identifies
the dispenser and the date and time of each dispensing act. The
central computer stores the reports from the several dispensers in
a database and displays them for management review.
On receipt of a signal from the detector, the controller may
trigger operation of an input device to acquire information about
the user who is using the dispenser. Preferably the input device is
touchless and identifies the user with biometric data, radio
frequency identification, magnetic key or the like. The data taken
by the input device is passed through the controller to the central
computer which is programmed with an algorithm for matching the
data collected by the input device with data previously collected
and identified with the user.
Upon receipt of a signal from the detector that operation of the
dispenser has been triggered by the placement of a user's hands
under the discharge port of the dispenser, the controller may
signal an output device for providing feedback to the user
indicating that the system is working and that his or her acts are
being monitored.
The invention summarized above comprises the systems hereinafter
described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
subjoined claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible
embodiments of the invention is illustrated, corresponding
reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the
several views of the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for monitoring hand cleaning
compliance; and,
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the logic steps in the system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 refers to a system
for monitoring hand cleaning compliance in accordance with the
present invention. A plurality of touchless dispensers 12 is
provided for use by employees such as food handlers, hospital
workers, day care personnel and the like to be monitored by a
manager.
Touchless dispensers 12 operate with a variety of electrical and
electromechanical components to automatically dispense a metered
amount of a soap, anti-bacterial cleansing liquid, lotion or the
like. Such dispensers 12 have a discharge port 14 for metering the
cleanser into the hands of a user 16 and a detector 18 which
triggers operation of the dispensing mechanism on receipt of a
signal 20 from detector 18. Detector 18 can be a proximity switch
with optical, infrared, magnetic or ultrasonic sensor. The
dispensing mechanism can be a simple mechanical valve or pump, an
electric generated pump, or any other known device that can produce
a useful volume of cleaning liquid.
When detector triggers operation of the dispensing mechanism, a
signal 20' is also sent to a controller 22 such as a
microprocessor. Controller 22 puts a date and time stamp on the
dispensing act. Controller 22 also sends the information in a
report to a central computer 24 which stores reports from the
plurality of touchless dispensers 12 being monitored in a database.
The reports stored in a database may be displayed for management
review.
As heretofore described, system 10 is capable of tracking the
number of usages of each dispenser 12 over a given time period. No
distinction is made between multiple applications by a given user
and no data is collected, stored or calculated in regards to
individual users. Simple system 10 allows a supervisor to be able
to approximately track whether the employees are washing their
hands or applying disinfectant as instructed. From the reports
stored in central computer 24, the supervisor can obtain an
approximation of compliance from the number of dispensing events by
tabulating the number of employees during a given shift and the
length of time of the shift together with an expected standard of
compliance (e.g., an employee will engage in two sanitizing acts
per hour). Although the supervisor will not be able to identify
which employees washed or applied disinfectant, he will be able to
ascertain gross violations of protocol and respond accordingly.
Simple system 10 thus provides a low-cost form of compliance
monitoring leading to informed action.
A more complicated system 10' may also include an input device 26
co-located with each dispenser 12 for use in identifying each
employee. On receipt of signal 20' from detector 18, controller 22
may also trigger input device 26 with signal 27. Biometric data
such a voice print, fingerprints, palm scans, retinal scans or the
like may be taken by input device 26. A camera may be provided for
taking a facial or hand image to compare against a known facial or
hand model for the person being identified. The data taken by input
device 26 is sent as a signal 28 to controller 22 which, in turn,
sends a report to central computer 24. Central computer 24 is
outfitted with an algorithm suitable for matching the biometric
data collected by input device 26 with biometric data previously
collected and identified with the user. For example, a voice
recognition algorithm, a facial recognition algorithm, a hand
geometry recognition algorithm, etc. may be used. Other touchless
employee identification input devices 26 may be used such as radio
frequency identification (RFID) elements where a user need only
bring an RFID identification transponder within certain angle of
input device 26. A biometric identification system is preferred,
however, because it is more difficult for an employee to scam the
system such as by using another's RFID badge, magnetic key or other
such accessing means. From the reports stored in central computer
24, a supervisor may obtain exact compliance reporting for each
employee.
System 10' may further include an output device 30 co-located with
each dispenser 12 for providing feedback to the user regarding use
of the dispenser on signal 32 from controller 22. This may include
one or more blinking lights, an LED display or a video monitor or
audio speaker. Output device 30 may be desirable because, as a
general rule, compliance is higher if the user knows that the
system is working and his or her acts are being monitored.
If being a good citizen is not enough incentive to take action
regarding hand cleaning compliance, an outbreak of an infectious
disease traced back to an employer can be devastating to a
business. System 10, 10 provides a cost-effective, non-intrusive
way for food service providers, restaurant owners or health care
providers to ensure that hand cleaning protocols are being followed
and take informed action if they are not.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the objects of the
invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As
various changes could be made in the above systems without
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all
matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
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